Tamarac begins process to fill empty commission seat

TAMARAC — City commissioners are accepting applications to fill the term of Patte Atkins-Grad, who resigned her commission seat last week in advance of a recall election.

Applications for the vacant District 2 seat are available at the city clerk's office or on the city's website, http://www.tamarac.org. The deadline is 12 p.m. Sept. 26. The commission will publicly interview candidates beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 30. The term ends November 2014.

"Given that they are making the appointment rather than the electorate, the commission wants to feel as comfortable as possible that they have all of the information necessary to make the selection," Boston said. "They feel a responsibility to ensure that the person appointed is fully qualified for the position."

Applicants are asked to "describe the specific expertise and/or abilities" they would bring to the city.

"I can tell you my criteria: I'm looking for ethical people who are rational and well-meaning and we'll start with that," said Vice Mayor Harry Dressler, who had publicly sparred with Atkins-Grad and called for her to resign. "By well-meaning, I mean someone who will put the interests of the residents ahead of their own personal agenda."

Atkins-Grad, under attack for her successful defense strategy during her corruption trial last year, would only resign on condition the city pay her $8,000, which commissioners agreed to do. Boston said the funds were transferred electronically Friday morning.

Atkins-Grad said Tuesday the money was intended to help pay her legal bills. She said that amount only pays a fraction of what she paid attorney Stuart Michelson to try to stop the planned October recall election.

"I thought it was the right way to go," said Atkins-Grad, who said she was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. "My legal bills are a lot. I just want to [move] on with my life. I'm trying to heal."